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BF's early election campaign for 2010 draws flak

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abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/08/2008 9:27 PM

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Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Bayani Fernando is being criticized by various camps for his "early campaigning" tactics for the 2010 national elections.

Fernando announced his intention of joining the presidential race in 2010 on Sunday, saying he is ready to become a candidate of the Lakas-National Union of Christian Democrats (Lakas-NUCD), though he admitted he has yet to receive the party's blessing as its standard bearer.

One of the alleged "early campaigning" methods being criticized is the "BAYANI" stickers on passenger buses bound for the provinces.

Fernando has drawn flak after it was revealed that the MMDA reportedly shelled out money to distribute the said stickers to bus units at terminals along the main Metro Manila highway of EDSA.

According to drivers, MMDA traffic enforcers have become lenient on them whenever they see the stickers on their buses.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) said there is nothing illegal in the use of the stickers, but the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said the stickers should have a permit from them before being placed on the buses.

"Nakakuha lang kami ng statement sa LTFRB na wala yang permit kaya kami na mismo ang huhuli sa mga bus at magtatanggal ng sticker," LTO Assistant Secretary Alberto Suansing said.

Fernando is also being accused of using MMDA funds for his campaigning activities.

"Mag-U-turn na siya sa balak niyang tumakbo sa pagkapangulo kung gagamitin lang niya ang pondo ng ahensya, na tingin ko ginagamit nga nya, o kaya naman mag-resign na siya sa MMDA," Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez said.

The Senate will also investigate whether Fernando is using public funds for politicking.

"Susuriin ng Senado kapag sumalang sa budget deliberations ang MMDA, bunga na rin daw ng sinasabing umanong lantarang pangangampanya ni Fernando," Sen. Francis Escudero said.

The MMDA chief has also been criticized for putting up huge tarpaulin posters of him along major roads and highways in Metro Manila.

Bayani dismisses criticisms

Fernando, meanwhile, remained unperturbed by the criticisms.

"Bugbog na bugbog na ako sa batikos nitong mga nakaraang araw, pero alam ko na ako ang kukunin ng Lakas," he told journalists during a tour of a squatters' relocation site in Marikina City on Monday.

He also said Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. would be a good running mate.

"Okay sakin si Bong Revilla dahil Lakas din siya, kaya sama kaming lalaban," he said.

Fernando said he is not affected by the criticisms against him, specifically about the stickers.

"Wala namang masama dun. Eh siguro, mga kaibigan ko ang naglalagay ng mga yan sa bus. Eh yung mga lapida nga may pangalan, ako pa kaya," he said.

"Kapag mabunga, binabato talaga. Wala akong balak tanggalin ang mga sticker. Dadagdagan ko pa," he added.

Earlier, Fernando, a former mayor of Marikina City, also said he does not mind being branded as "Hitler" because of the MMDA's "Gestapo-like" tactics in clearing sidewalks of illegal vendors.

He said that despite the negative tag, people see that his projects, like the sidewalk clearing operations, bring order to the streets.

'He will have a hard time'

Amid the criticisms and Fernando's defense of his programs, political analyst Ramon Casiple said the MMDA chairman may have a hard time in selling himself as a presidential candidate.

Casiple said this is because the people do not see Fernando as a presidential material.

The political analyst added the public still do not know Fernando's stand on national issues because his job as MMDA chief covers only local matters that affect the National Capital Region like traffic and dumpsites for Metro Manila's garbage.

However, Casiple said that Fernando will definitely add color to the presidential race if and when he runs for president in 2010.

Fernando is the latest politician to declare his intention of running for president.

Last week, Senate President Manuel Villar formally announced that he will run for president in 2010. --With reports from Sol Aragones and Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News